The DDP project is located at the centre of Dongdaemun, a historic district known in the heart of Seoul known for its 24 hour shopping and cafes (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

The DDP project in Seoul, with its impressive massing and extensive curvilinear features, was the first public project in Korea to use 3D Building Information Modelling (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

The façade itself is not solid; instead it incorporates a field of pixilation and perforations, that together create a changing visual dynamic that shifts depending on lighting and seasonal conditions (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

With a total cladding surface area of 30,000 m2 (322,917 sq.ft), Zaha’s team required 45,133 panels to completely skin the structure (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

The entire site covers approximately 65,000 m2 (699,654 sq.ft) with a construction floor area of 86,574 m2 (931,874 sq.ft.) (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

A wooden staircase strategically located in the main space is the only natural design element to intrude on the DDP’s otherwise cold inner interior space (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

The new Design Plaza is strategically situated on a historically relevant site that takes inspiration from and includes aspects of the city’s ancient walls and found cultural artifacts
(Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza officially opened to the public March 21 as part of Seoul Fashion Week (Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

Known for her futuristic, curvilinear architectural forays, Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi Pritzker prize winning architect, has never been one to shy away from making a statement. From London’s Aquatics Centre to the Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion to the Guangzhou Opera House, Zaha’s architectural style remains unique. Now the Iraqi born designer can add Korea’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza to her resume.